Painting on Glass

Updated on May 17, 2012

Glass crafts make wonderful projects and gifts. This is because there are so many options! With just a little paint you can transform an every day item into something truly special. From wine glasses to your own kitchen cabinet doors, painting on glass can quickly transform boring into fabulous in just a few hours. And though it may seen intimidating, it's actually quite easy!

The Basics

Before you can begin painting on glass you will first need to clean the glass with warm soapy water to remove any smudges, marks or sticky labels. Once the glass has been washed with soap and warm water, you will need to let it dry thoroughly.

If you plan on tracing an image to paint, attach your stencil to the glass so that it shows through on the side you are painting. If you are using a curved surface, cut slits in your stencil so that it sits flat.

Using paint that is specifically for glass, begin painting your design, or filling in your stencil, with a good brush. If you use a cheap paint brush you risk the chance of having loose brissels in your paint. Tip: mistakes can be wiped away if wet and scraped if dry.

Sealing your design is the last and most important part of glass painting. Once your paint has air dried for the length specified on the back of your paint bottle, add a paint glaze to your finished product to seal your design and give it a glossy finish.

Painted Bottles

Simple bottles, especially uniquely shaped or colored bottles, can be a very fun pallette for glass painting as with just a few simple designs, you can truly make some gorgeous pieces of artwork. All that is needed are bottles, which can even be found in your own house, glass paint, a good painter's brush and sealer. Use stencils or freehand swirls and shapes to create unique designs for each bottle.

Wine Glasses

Wine glasses are fun because they can so easily be customized to fit the design of your kitchen or your favorite set of dishes. Sold cheaply at stores, auctions or yard sales, simple, clear wine glasses can be transformed into high-priced goblets with just a few strokes of the brush. For a more simple, elegant look, add just one thick stripe. You can even paint a different color stripe for each wine glass to create an eclectic set!

Christmas Ornaments

Painting on glass ornaments is a very popular craft during the holidays. You can find these glass ornaments at very reasonable prices at your local craft stores weeks before Christmas time. The benefits to making your own ornaments is simply the fact that you can customize your tree to fit any decor you would like with ease! Simple stripes, swirls or shapes can be added with just a few strokes of the brush, or, for a more formal look, small vinyl stencils are usually sold near the ornaments and can be used with very little skill.

Kitchen Cabinets

Do you have glass doors in your kitchen that you would love to spruce up? Consider painting a design on them! Simple designs can actually make kitchen cabinets look classier, and are perfect for creating a translucent look to hide your dinnerware.

Dinnerware Accessories

You've painted your wine glasses and now you want the perfect, complete look. Think about painting salt and pepper shakers, or even an oil and vinegar decanter set. These items are usually sold very cheap and can easily be decorated to fit your dinnerware pattern or kitchen theme. Your guests will be impressed with your self-designed patterns.